Top Stolen Cars: Dodge Intrepid and Stratus/Sebring

Discussion in 'Sebring' started by Greg Houston, Aug 27, 2005.

  1. Greg Houston

    Greg Houston Guest

    The Intrepid (and Status/Sebring) has once again made it into a top
    stolen car list, this time for 2001-2003 models. It joins the company
    of the likes of Cadillac Escalade and Nissan Maxima.

    I understand an awful lot of Intrepids have the SKIM Sentry Key
    Immoblizer system which in theory should make this car very difficult to
    steal. So what gives? Is the SKIM system that useless, or are the cars
    without this feature stolen extreley often? I'm pretty sure that the
    SKIM system is manufactured by STRATTEC Security, formerly part of
    Briggs & Stratton. I think Ford uses STRATTEC's key technology as well.

    My car has the SKIM system, but somehow I'll bet my insurance rates
    reflect the Intrepid's status on this list anyway.
     
    Greg Houston, Aug 27, 2005
    #1
  2. Greg Houston

    Peter Guest

    I understand an awful lot of Intrepids have the SKIM Sentry Key
    I just watched this feature on Explorer (=Discovery) about car thieving
    group in Canada in late 90s. They would use manufacturer's service software
    to override any immobilizers in the car. Pretty straightforward - just plug
    laptop it into OBD connector and select 'disable immobilizer' from the menu.
    Of course, this could have been just producer's imagination - I find it hard
    to believe car makers would allow disabling built-in immobilizers this easy.

    Peter
     
    Peter, Aug 27, 2005
    #2
  3. Greg Houston

    maxpower Guest

    The average Joe blow that tries to steal your vehicle with the Skim Security
    System gets in, breaks the key cylinder, cranks the vehicle 3 times and then
    exits it because it wont start.
    If a Professional thief wants to steal your car, he will do it.

    Glenn Beasley
    Chrysler Tech
     
    maxpower, Aug 27, 2005
    #3
  4. As I have repeatedly said before in this group, and as I've repeatedly
    pointed out
    that chipped keys are worthless before in this group - and been pooh-poohed
    before,
    I think even by you yourself once. So your finally seeing the light, now.

    The pro car thieves are stealing the latest, highest dollar models. So what
    your
    observing here is that the chipped key systems are worthless for the new car
    buyers
    who are spending the most money on very young cars, but once the car is an
    old
    piece of shit then professional thieves won't be bothering with it anymore,
    and now
    the chipped key systems are going to be of some use!

    One of the first times I've seen a doo-dad introduced by the automakers that
    gives the most benefit to the 3rd and 4th owners, and no benefit to the new
    car
    purchaser!

    Ted
     
    Ted Mittelstaedt, Aug 28, 2005
    #4
  5. Greg Houston

    MoPar Man Guest

    Is "Sentry Key" the same as Skim?

    -------------
    http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/theft/2001TheftRatesFinal.pdf

    Sez that 2001 Intrepid (113k made) had 12.7 thefts per 1000 vehicles.
    Neon and Stratus (again each had production in excess of 100k units)
    had theft rates in the order of 10.3 per 1000. 300M and Lincoln LS
    had similar production numbers (37/42k units) and had similar theft
    rates (6.1 per 1000). One theory is that maybe more affluent people
    own 300m/LS and garage them more at night, or don't drive (or work, or
    live) on skid row and maybe that's why they have lower theft rates.
    But that doesn't explain why Chebby Cavalier's have a theft rate of
    5.2 per 1000 (and there were 217k of those made). Grand AM rates were
    also much lower (6.5) vs Intrepid/Stratus.

    Likely stolen with a flat-bed truck:

    Acura NSX (1 stolen, 167 made)
    Bentley Arnage (2 stolen, 466 made)

    Not sure why the list shows only 682 Chrysler Neon's being made in
    2001.

    -------------

    http://www.cars.com/go/features/2004overview/passenger/fullsize/dollar.jsp

    Also sez that Intrepid is at the top of the stolen list (which is
    against the prevailing theory that full size models usually don't
    interest thieves).

    -------------

    http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/theft10e_20050810.htm

    Sez:
    .......
    Max Gates, a spokesman for DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group, said he
    wasn't sure why the automaker's cars topped the list. Auburn
    Hills-based Chrysler accounted for seven of the 15 vehicles with the
    highest theft rates. Chrysler offers an immobilizer system on most of
    its Dodge and Chrysler vehicles that prevents the engine from being
    started without a key. The immobilizer is offered as part of an option
    package that includes power windows and doors. "Some of our dealers
    are ordering 100% of their vehicles equipped with that," Gates said.
    The system was developed several years ago after discussions with
    police officers, he said.
    ........

    So maybe many Intrepids and Stratus aren't ordered with the power
    window package (?).

    Besides towing or hauling a vehicle away, I wonder just how a
    (Chrysler) car with Sentry Key is being driven away (assuming the
    thief doesn't have the owner's car keys to start with). I doubt that
    the casual thief (or teenage delinquent) is going to shlep around a
    laptop for just the occasion to plug it into the OBD connector of a
    Stratus to steal it.

    So what's more effective to prevent "drive-away" car theft?

    Sentry key immobilizer, or laminated side-glass?
     
    MoPar Man, Aug 28, 2005
    #5
  6. Greg Houston

    maxpower Guest

    Your confusing me with someone else, but as I said in the past, this system
    works but not for the professional thief.
    Before this SKIM was introduced we would have cars towed into the shop all
    beat up from the joy riders that steal them. Now we just get them in with a
    busted column and a bad ignition cyl.

    The system does work Ted. If a thief wants a car he will get it no mater
    what.
     
    maxpower, Aug 28, 2005
    #6
  7. All the cars listed are safe in western Europe so come and drive over
    here...

    The cars that go here (well, not in the UK as we have RHD) tend to be high
    end Mercs and BMWs, stolen to order by gangs from the Ukraine...

    :)
    DAS
     
    Dori A Schmetterling, Aug 28, 2005
    #7
  8. Greg Houston

    Bill Putney Guest

    Known as "thieves in the law".

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Aug 28, 2005
    #8
  9. Greg Houston

    Mr.X Guest




    I just had a 3rd skim key cut for my car so I'd always have at least
    2 on hand and learm them myself to the pcm and the skim.

    I've read over the factory powertrain manual and knew a bit about the
    system so I got into a conversation with the locksmith.

    now I cant recall all the details but he pointed out there were a
    couple of different ways to install a remote start system. one way
    was such that the skis was essentially disabled, and the higher end
    way still required a coded transponder key learned to be used. both
    seem to use a transponder key stashed in the car and wired into the
    skim antenna. I think the low end one is jsut a passivaly coupled
    antenna with a key in the box and the collumn antenna is disconnected

    not that I had any real desire to install remote start but I see on
    ebay they sell a couple of different interfaces to put in remote start
    with skis , I'm sure these require more time and work than a car
    theif wants to deal with. exactly how the ebay ones work I'd like
    more info on


    before I read this high theft rate report I was thinking of asking
    the skim to be set to disabled , I like to do most of my own repairs
    and didn't want to be bothered with a drbIII that could write to
    the pcm and skim , they all are up in the big $$$ to enter the vin
    and pins and do anything but reset the mil and clear codes.
    ( any one know of a drb on the low $$$ that can write the vin and pins
    ???? PLEASE post it )
     
    Mr.X, Aug 28, 2005
    #9
  10. Greg Houston

    maxpower Guest

    The way the after markets are installing the remote starter is to take out
    the chip of a programmed key and attach it next to the Immobilizer.
    But of course now the ignition switch can be punched out and the vehicle
    driven away by the thief

    Glenn Beasley
    Chrysler Tech
     
    maxpower, Aug 29, 2005
    #10
  11. Greg Houston

    Mr.X Guest



    thanks for the info, the locksmith said Chrysler Dealer installed
    usually does it the right way ,, could you give us a hint what is
    the right way

    thanks
     
    Mr.X, Aug 29, 2005
    #11
  12. Greg Houston

    maxpower Guest

    I dont install accessories. There is probably a kit from Chrysler that makes
    the system work correctly, I would contact you sales rep or the parts
    department to check on this
     
    maxpower, Aug 29, 2005
    #12
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